A Call To The Community - Media Violence

[ExoByte]

I'm writting an essay on Media Violence and the Responsibility of People and their Actions, and want to get the opinions of my fellow commuters. What is your take on violence in the media? This includes video games, books, music, TV, Movies ect. How does it affect people? Who does it affect? Is it to blame for the violence in today's world? Who is truely responsible for what who(be it themselves, or their children) sees? Anything Please be aware I already have my opinion and argument on the issue, and its not going to change. I just want to see what you all think.

[•Neko•]

I can't really think of much, but here it is anyway: I think that the most common media to influence are video gaming and television. Not all games, shows or films are to blame for this, although there are some, for example, Manhunt, which actually caused someone to be murdered if I can remember correctly. I also think that it is not entirely the media to blame, but the viewer's lack of responsibility and immaturity. If several young children were exposed to this violent media, they would probably be influenced into thinking that such acts are 'cool'. This is, what I think, the main cause of incidents involving media-related violence.

[Neruo]

Voilence in the media does somewhat lower a personson emotional response to real-life violence (actual study). However I think that a person will not be able to do more cruel things themselves becouse of violence in the media, I think a smart person could see the wrong. However, it might not be. I can honestly say that after killing ALOT of people/aliens in video-games, I do not feel more like killing, nor do I approve of it in any way, nor do I think physical violence is any less bad.

[Like A Bird Without Arms]

I believe that media violence desensitizes people, but they don't actually go out on rampages from playing too much video games or anything like that. They just kind of shrug off car accidents and shootings. I think there are some people who have violent tendencies who might be inspired by the media to act on these urges, but most people are left relatively unaffected. Personally my only problem with violence in the media is that it's not considered as 'offensive' as sexuality. I probably worded that badly. What I mean is that I hate how it's perfectly fine for a fourteen year old to witness as many reenactments of violent acts as he wants but as soon as he sees a nipple it's like "OH MY GOD NOW HIS CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN DESECRATED!!!!!!"

[FreshBrains]

I think that violence in the media and video games, and such, is a scapegoat. I have been playing pretty violent games for quite a while now, (Played Quake 1 when I was... 6, I think) and I'm reasonably sane, and have gone on 0 shooting rampages at the moment. I can sum most of my opinion up with this: "If violence in the media makes you violent, you were probably screwed up in the first place."

[theyearthreethousand]

I remember the whole Manhunt incident aswell - I wasn't 18 when I bought the game.. but I did explain to my mother that it'll be quite gory; but it's only a game afterall etc. I was mature enough, basically. A few weeks afterwards a kid obsessed with Manhunt murdered somebody & my mother wasn't very pleased that I owned it.. Anyways, I haven't played the game since -- but the way I see it is that parents should take time to check out what sort of games their children are playing.. -- & if they are don't think that they're suitable for their children then it's their job to not allow their children to have access to the material is it not? When parents blame the gaming industry for their violent games I think it's wrong - because there are plenty of mature people that can enjoy the games responsibly.

[ilovefrootloopz]

"If violence in the media makes you violent, you were probably screwed up in the first place." [/b] 100% right. When has there ever been a normal person from a normal family with normal circumstances kill people for what he saw/played?

[Lyla]

I don't think it affects us. Well, not too much at least. The human being is not an angel and if you'd isolate a man from the media I'm sure he's be tempted by violence as much as he would if he would play some computer game. It mostly depends on his personality, how strong he is, and how he can resist it. "Man wants chaos. In fact, he’s gotta have it. Depression, strife, riots, murder, all this dread. We’re irresistibly drawn to that almost orgiastic state created out of death and destruction. It’s in all of us. We revel in it." (Waking Life) Something along those lines. The importnant thing isn't not to show the children in the world violent movies, video games, etc etc, but to tell them that it is worng. Just my opinion.